Sales of TV and hybrid (Nintendo Switch) console hardware to consumers improved year-on-year in the third quarter. In the first half of 2018 console hardware had grown year-on-year by 2.8% but the last quarter has pushed the first three quarters’ year-on-year growth to 3.4%. This is a subscriber only update. Please login for details.

The console market is in good health, growing in the first six months of the year in unit sell-through terms by 4 per cent compared to the same period in 2017. Q2 sales volume grew by 6.3 per cent compared to growth in Q1 of 2.9 per cent.

There was a mixture of fortunes for the hardware manufacturers in the first quarter of 2018. In the western world, PS4 sell-through to consumers declined year-on-year versus Q1 17, but remained positive in Asia, including Japan.

There was a mixture of fortunes for the hardware manufacturers in the first quarter of 2018. In the Western World, PS4 sell-through to consumers declined year-on-year versus the first quarter 2017 but remained positive in Asia, including Japan.

Nintendo unveiled Super Mario Run, its first full mobile game using its own IP, alongside the launch of Apple’s latest iPhone and Apple Watch devices.
Available as a paid download, the app is already featured in Apple’s App Store where interested users can sign up to be notified when the title is launched. Super Mario Run features Nintendo’s best known character in an endless runner game with three modes including: simple courses; a rally challenge mode; and a “create your own kingdom” area.
At the same event, Nintendo partner Niantic announced that it will bring its hugely popular Pokemon Go title to the Apple Watch.

AR and location-based mobile game Pokémon Go has reached first rank in each of the free and top grossing categories in each of its three launch countries after just five days. This early success demonstrates the potential for other leading console brands to generate significant mobile revenues, especially those that have held back from fully embracing the smartphone market.

A group led by Chinese internet company Tencent has agreed to acquire an 84 percent stake in Finland-based mobile games developer Supercell for $8.6 billion. The stake, acquired from Japan’s Softbank, values Supercell at $10.2 billion. Following the close of the deal, Tencent expects to hold a voting interest worth 50 percent of the new controlling consortium. Supercell’s existing management will continue to lead the company.

Calendar Q3 2015 turned out to be a bit volatile for several of the publishers in our report. While large publishers Tencent, Activision Blizzard and NetEase all reported strong growth, Electronic Arts was down over the year ago period after taking a hit on currency exchange rates and not having a title comparable to The Sims 4 which launched in the third quarter last year.

Pan-Nordic broadcaster and pay TV provider MTG has acquired DreamHack, Scandinavia’s largest esports player. The deal for 100% of the company, which runs local and global esports leagues, tournaments and championships, values DreamHack at SKr244 million ($28 million).